Blaze of Glory:Broken Shadows

Chapter 5

After a long night of rather vivid nightmares, Blaze woke up in a cold sweat and got out of bed.

It was another depressing day, he noticed immediately. The sky was darkened again by the black clouds that had taken up residence above Ponyville.

As he trotted down the hallway reflecting on the events of yesterday Blaze came to a decision.

“Its best if I leave Ponyville.” He said voicing his thoughts aloud.

He came to this conclusion as he reached the kitchen. He rifled through the refrigerator, grabbed himself a drink and went back towards his room.

Once inside his room he began to pack up his things into his worn out duffel bag that he had used for years, deciding to take only what was necessary.

He packed up his hoodie that he wore on occasion if he needed to disappear. On top of the hoodie and a few other select pieces of clothing, he placed a bottle of Buck Daniels, his bit bag, his toothbrush,toothpaste and prepared to put in his most prized possession.

Blaze stared at the silver coin that his father had given him on the day of his graduation from middle school and felt his eyes water. He quickly placed the coin in the bag knowing that he couldn't let himself take a trip down memory lane right now.

He finished up preparations for his departure, making sure he didn't forget anything and walked out of his bedroom, down the worn old hallway towards the kitchen.

He stopped in the kitchen to grab a can of Coke before he trotted to the front door, took one last look around and bid farewell to his house in Ponyville.

Before I leave I have to go apologize to Feather Hoof. Blaze thought to himself as he walked down the road, the gray sky above reflecting his current mood.

On the way down the road Blaze began to think about Rainbow Dash and the fact that she had not only accepted who he was but wanted to get to know him better.

Too bad I didn't get to know her better but this is for the best. He said to himself as he started to beat himself up for the choices he had made.

He continued to walk down the road as he sulked about how badly he messed his life up in one day.

As he walked into Ponyville proper, he started to think about what hes done.

Before he could get too deep into his past however, he arrived at Feather Hoof's home. Sighing Blaze trotted up to the front door as the sky began to drizzle and knocked.

After a few minutes of steady knocking the door slowly opened to reveal a baggy eyed, disheveled, brokenhearted Feather Hoof.

Noting the pony now on his doorstep, Feather Hoof's eyes widened uncontrollably and he began to stammer as he spoke.

“Wh-Why are you here?! I-I told you I would have your money by the end of the month!” He said as he backed away in fear leaving the door wide open which Blaze took prompt advantage of and stepped inside.

Feather Hoof continued to stumble backwards down the hallway as the silver coated colt slowly walked towards him.

“Don't worry Feather Hoof, I just want to talk to you.” Blaze said as he and his host entered the living room.

Once inside the room Blaze gestured towards a chair with a hoof. “Please have a seat, I won't take too much of your time.” Blaze said.

“O-okay, but I still don't see what you w-want from me.” Feather Hoff reluctantly agreed, knowing what this colt was capable of first hoof.

Once they had both taken their respective seats Blaze decided to get right down to business.

“I came here to apologize for what I did and to inform you that you have nothing more to fear from me for I am leaving as of today. Also I wanted to give you some money for the physical and monetary trouble I put you through. I know this doesn't make up for what I did and I honestly don't care if you forgive me, I needed to do this. So here, take it.” He said as he emptied half of his bag of bits on the table in the middle of the living room and got up to leave.

Feather Hoof just sat there staring at the massive amount of money lying on his table as Blaze left without another word.

Blaze trotted down the street. The rain was pouring, soaking right through his silver coat to his skin, drenching his red mane mane as the rough wind blew it backwards. As he walked from Feather Hoof's house towards the road that would lead him out of Ponyville he caught quite a few suspicious or downright nasty looks from ponies and he was more than happy to respond in kind with a death glare of his own, which if he wasn't frozen to his skin from the rain would have looked pretty intimidating but came across as nothing more than a weary, displeased stare.

As the silver coated pegasus in question turned a corner heading for the road that leads out of Ponyville he stopped for a second to try to get warm, the chill of the rain making him feel as if his skin and coat were frozen.

As he froze and shivered Blaze thought on what he had done.

Why did I save that girl? Sure she was an innocent but I have let innocents die before, not happily but it happened. Why is this one different to me? Could I possibly have feelings for her?

Realizing the direction his thoughts were taking him he started walking towards the road again, laughing and speaking aloud to himself.
“Hahahaha, ME have feelings for HER?! Ridiculous! She's brash, she's arrogant, she's hot headed, she is obnoxious.....” His voice trailed off as he began to think deeper “She's beautiful, she's loyal, she's strong, she's independent, she's brave and she is the one of the few mares that has never been afraid of or made fun of me.

He looked up to the sky, his blue eyes filled with confusion as the rain poured down on his face, the drops sliding off his eyelashes and rolling down his face, tears soon joining them.

“Have I really fallen for her? Did I destroy my life for love?”

The silver pegasus zoned out, staring up at the sky, heedless of the rain, heedless of everything but his thoughts which soon drifted back to his past, how he met Nocturne and most prevalently his parents as the rain softly pattered on his eyes and rolled down his face being joined by tears as he cried in the middle of the road, lost in memory.

Years Ago.......

It had been about 4 months since young Blaze was released from the hospital and his father was currently out of the house, leaving him and his mother to work inside.

Blaze and his mother casually chatted, about Blaze's school, the young colt having come along nicely, developing semi broad shoulders, possessed of a decent intellect and a pure heart despite the things that happened to him earlier in the year.

“And then Mommy, this one bully was trying to mess with one of my friends and I interfered. I beat him up and my friend was safe though I got in trouble for it.” Blaze said to his mother, a look of disappointment on his face and a slight worry there as well, fully expecting to be yelled at for getting in trouble.

His mother Silver Spark looked upon the apple of her eye and smiled warmly, the warmth from Silver being a trademark of hers, it was a smile that seemed to follow her everywhere she went and made her a beloved member of their little community in the slums.

:Blaze, you did the right thing standing up for your friend my young colt. I am very proud of you and I am sure your father feels the same, when he gets back from work he will most likely congratulate you as I have.” She said as she finished up washing the few dirty dishes there were.

As soon as she was done saying this and had lain down on the couch, propping herself up, her bones weary from working the door flew open and Blaze's father Nova Blitz entered the house, panic on his face.

Silver turned to her beloved husband, sensing and seeing his distress.

“Honey? Whats wrong?”

He turned around slowly, swiveling his head in panic before he saw her and Blaze.

“Silver! Blaze! Hide! They're coming!”

Both mother and son looked at the colt they both loved dearly.

“Who's coming dear? Who's coming daddy?” They both asked at the same time, their question was short lived as the locked door was slammed open and 4 burly stallions walked in, a unicorn dressed in a white tux with his head held high to accentuate his blue mane trotted in after them and stood at the forefront.

The white unicorn spoke first before they could react, his accent was very high class, his posture one of poise but his green eyes and speech pattern were like a snakes, giving him a very eerie presence.

He took a deep breath. “Mr.Blitz, it is far past the time that you agreed on with the boss, now you pay up.

Both Blaze and Silver were confused by this and spoke in unison again. “What does he mean?”

Nova Blitz looked at his family and back to the unicorn addressing him by name. “I don't have the money Salazar, the boss will have to wait, its been a slow month.”

Salazar tapped a white hoof under his chin and thought. “I am going to take something of equal value then and since your young colt here is the most likely candidate” The white unicorn surrounded Blaze with a green aura and carried him to him “I will be taking him until you can pay us back and if you don't then this” Nods at the stallions and points at Nova “Will be the fate that awaits your son, though probably far worse”

The 4 burly stallions descended upon the weary Nova and began beating him senseless as Salazar carried Blaze out the door and towards the streets.

Blaze reached a hoof out for his mother and father as his father was brutally beaten and his mother was held back as she tried to dash to save her son, tears streaming down her face as she watched her pride and joy being taken away.

Blaze's last memory was of him watching a white hoof descend on his nose and then blackness enveloped him, the tears, the sorrow and the pain all washed away in a sea of nothingness.